HRT, Menopause, and the Brain: New Data
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By
February 2, 2026
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3 min
A UK Biobank analysis of nearly 125,000 women reveals a link between menopause and deteriorating mental health alongside reduced gray matter volume in key brain regions. Postmenopausal women exhibited heightened anxiety and depression compared to their premenopausal counterparts, with those undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) facing even greater mental health challenges. The study also noted a prevalence of insomnia and tiredness among postmenopausal women, particularly those on HRT, while neuroimaging indicated decreased gray matter volumes in critical areas of the brain, suggesting that HRT may not alleviate these issues.
1. Menopause linked to worse mental health and brain structure changes. 2. Postmenopausal women show increased anxiety and depression. 3. HRT users report greater mental health challenges. 4. Insomnia and tiredness more prevalent in postmenopausal women. 5. Gray matter volumes smaller in HRT users, particularly in hippocampus. 6. Cognitive differences noticed, but limited in significance. 7. Study population consisted of women aged 40-69 from UK Biobank.
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